Xander Harris was nothing close to what Willow had tried to prepare
herself for. This Xander had his hair cut quite a bit more short, giving
his face a whole new look. Muscles covered his body, giving him the look
of an athlete. He adorned prep clothes with a leather jacket. The
shocker for her, though, was the dark oval glasses that he wore. She
could hardly believe that this was the same Xander that she had grown up
with, then again, this wasn’t the same Xander.

Attached at his hip was a very leggy Amy. She wore a short leather
skirt and a tight black shirt. Long hair swept down her back in a very
beautiful style. Her make up was finely done. In all, Willow thought
she looked like a goddess. She was beautiful. It wasn’t that her Amy
wasn’t as good looking, there was just something about this Amy that
seemed more elegant. With her fine tuned looks, it was hard for Willow
to remember that this Amy was just as powerful as hers and had access to
powers Willow could only dream of.

As soon as they had arrived at Oz’s, the meeting had began. It was now
a couple of hours later and people were milling out as Willow thought
about the two new additions to the group. Cordelia bumped into her,
breaking her thoughts. “Oh, Willow, I just wanted to apologize for
earlier. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

Willow turned and shook her head. “Only my random thoughts. Nothing
big.” Looking strangely at Cordelia, she asked, “Now what did you want
to apologize for?”

“That whole pulse thing. I was just trying to lighten things up.”
Cordelia looked innocently at her and batted her eyelashes.

Smiling, Willow shook her head. “No problem. If I wasn’t so worried, I
would have laughed, and if Spike wasn’t unconscious, I am sure he would
have got a kick out of it.”

“Nice dress, Cordelia. Where did you get it, a thrift store?” asked
Xander Harris as he and Amy walked up.

Amy shrugged and elbowed him a little. “I like it. I think it shows
originality in a very, uhm...different way.”

Willow narrowed her eyes at the two as Cordelia took a deep breath in
but smiled. “It was nice meeting you guys. Are you going to be around
much?” asked Willow.

Xander shook his head. “Probably not. I have a family thing tomorrow.”
They paused and shuffled their feet for a few uncomfortable seconds.
“So, where you spending the night?”

Willow smiled. “Oz said something about all of us staying at his other
place tonight. I hear it is huge and has a great security system.” She
nodded as she finished and looked around as she crossed her arms and
leaned her weight on one leg.

Amy held out her hand and they shook as Amy commented, “Well, it was
nice meeting you. I was looking forward to meeting Spike, but I
guess...”

Willow interrupted, “He is a bit under the weather. Maybe you can see
him later. You know, there is just something about being in a place when
it blows up that brings you down.”

“Hey, it’s not our fault. Maybe you should calm down.” Remarked Xander
dryly.

Willow nodded, “Yes, maybe I should.” They stared at each other and
after a few uncomfortable silent seconds until Xander and Amy turned away
and headed to the door. Staring after them with a scowl on her face,
Willow commented towards Cordelia, “And, oh, I love the outfit. I think
I have that exact duo hanging in my closet at home.”

Cordelia looked down at her bright orange skit and red t-shirt. “Thank
you.” They stood for a while, watching people leave when Cordelia asked,
“Why did you lie?”

“About what?”

“About staying here with Doyle and I?”

“I don’t trust them,” Willow simply stated.

“Who don’t you trust?” asked Oz as Angel, William, and him approached
her.

“Xander to be precise. I’m getting a weird vibe off of him. Not only
that, but I think that one of us is a turn coat.”

“And your telling us?” asked Oz.

“I’m telling you guys, because I don’t think it is any of you. Why
would Angel and William blow up their own home, or Cordelia and Doyle put
their lives at risk getting us out.”

“Okay, so you don’t think it’s us. So the question is, why do you think
someone is giving out information?” asked Angel.

“They took out Willow. Why do that if you were going to bomb her place.
No, the Initiative knows that we have figured out that something is
going down. Now, even with me, they think of you as a threat. Why?
They shouldn’t, unless someone gave them information to think so.”

Doyle nodded as he walked up to the group. “Makes sense to me. The
question is who?”

“I don’t know. It could be anyone. Amy knew all about the magic, but
Giles and Faith knew about all the other stuff that we discussed. And
what do you really know about this Lindsey guy?”

William nodded, “You’re right. Something is definitely going on, but we
need everyone to get through this.”

Willow agreed, “Yes, and that is the problem, isn’t it.”

They all stood for a while and then Angel cut in. “I think William and
I better head out with Oz so you can get to Spike. I am sure that he is
going to need his bandages checked.”

William agreed. “With the rest he got, he should be healed pretty good.
However, he might be a little thirsty.”

Willow nodded, “Okay.” She looked at them and smiled. “Thank you guys
for everything.”

After giving everyone hugs, Willow stood by the window and watched them
leave. The moon was full - a sign that showed this Oz was not a werewolf
- and the sky clear. She could see the stars and moon reflected in the
puddles on the paved streets below. In the distance a car horn honked.
All things that were just like her home in ways.

Cordelia went on and got some blood ready for Spike, knowing that
Willow was deep in thought. Willow’s thoughts were interrupted, though,
by Doyle, “It may seem the more you stare out there, the closer you are
to answers, but you’re not, ya know.” She turned and looked at him as he
continued. “I find it easier to look right in front of me.”

“How would you know?” she asked.

He smiled at her and then stood beside her at the window. Staring at
the moon while his reflection seemed to stare at her, he answered, “I was
just a little older than you, teaching school. Everything seemed normal.
I mean, sure, there were things, but they were everyday things that I
took for granted. Then one day, something happened. I was standing in
front of the mirror when I sneezed. When I opened my eyes, a strange
face was staring back at me. All of a sudden I was faced with something
I didn’t understand or even want to understand. So, anyway, I ran away.
I left my job, home and family, all because I couldn’t face what I was.”

“I’m not running away from anything though.”

“No, you are just not facing things. I think you have been thrown for a
loop and don’t know how to deal. I mean, he is a killer, an enemy, and
now you are faced with knowing that he has feelings for you and you might
have feelings for him. Am I close?”

“To close,” answered Willow.

“I find I’m pretty good at reading faces. It has been all over yours
since the explosion.” They stood for a minute and then he continued.
“When I first met Cordelia, I knew that I wanted to be with her, but I
was scared. She hated demons. I mean, she had been fighting them for
quite a while. I represented the things that she couldn’t stand. Every
time I saw her, I was reminded about what I was, and then I started to
realize that I really didn’t know what I was. I started to research, and
the more I learned, the more I started to come face to face with what I
was, and that helped me come to terms. After that I was able to make
another change in my life, and that life included Cordelia. It turned
out that when she found out what I was, she also found out how much I
cared, and that made all the difference.”

“So you’re saying that I should give him a chance, learn more about him,
and open my eyes to what he has to offer?”

“Well, I didn’t say it quite so elegantly, but yah.”

Willow looked over at Cordelia as Cordelia handed her Spike’s mug of
blood. Cordelia smiled and commented, “When you love someone, you can
look past the obvious - or not so obvious - and get a better look at what
is in the inside, all the while loving them unconditionally.” She
wrapped an arm around Doyle and motioned toward the hall with her head.
“Everything is all locked up. Ready to settle down? Oz said he left our
old room for whenever we needed to borrow the place.”

Doyle nodded and they left down the hall, heading to the last door on
the left. Slowly, Willow took down the hall. There were five doors.
Three of them on the sides of the hall belonged to bedrooms. The two
rooms on the right shared a bathroom between them. The first door on the
right was a bathroom with an entrance in the hall and from the bedroom
beside it, where Doyle and Cordelia were staying. The last door was
straight in front of her, and that was the master bedroom for Oz.

Willow entered the first door to the right. Quietly, she sat Spike’s
mug on the night stand. Tip-toeing into the bathroom, she went through
the medicine cabinet and then headed back into the room with gauze and
ointment in hand. As she approached the bed, she kicked it and started
to swear. From the darkness came his voice, softer than usual, “Watch
where you’re going, pet. It is a little dark in here.”

Sitting down beside him, she remarked, “You’re up.”

“I was asleep till you kicked the bed.” He reached up and turned the
lamp on the night stand on. Spike slowly sat up, and then gasped as he
was almost there. Willow reached for him, but he held out one hand and
the other supported him. “I’m a vampire Willow. I should know pain by
now.” He sat up the rest of the way and then asked, “So, do you have any
news for me?”

Willow handed him his mug and then got behind him and started to undo
the gauze they had wrapped around his badly burned chest. As she reached
her arms around him to unwrap, she commented to the side, “Tomorrow I’m
going to storm the Initiative.”

Spike’s hand shot out and grabbed her hand. Turning around and then
grabbing his side he commented with a look of pain on his face. “Like
bloody hell you are! What are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed.
I won’t allow it.”

Willow wrenched her hand free and continued to unwrap. As the last
piece of gauze fell from his chest, she commented, “You’re not my keeper,
Spike. I’ve faced danger before. It isn’t anything new.”

Spike turned and looked at her as she took him in also. He looked
terrible. Even though it looked like most of the burns had healed, his
chest was covered with one large bruise. His face was covered with pink
blotches, where burnt skin had been ripped off to be replaced by new
skin. Willow could still remember watching in the back ground as Angel
and William had tried to remove the dead, burnt skin. It wasn’t that big
of a deal, because he was already healing beneath it, but it still hurt
like hell. She could still hear him groaning as they ripped it off. His
arms and hands were covered in the same blotches, but luckily his legs
only had a few places.

Willow slowly reached out and touched his chest. Spike to a sharp
breath in as she looked at him. “What happened?”

As he took her hand in his and removed it from his chest, he answered,
“When the blast went off, part of the couch flew into my chest. I think
it broke a few ribs.”

“You think?” Willow looked at him crossly. “Now how am I going to fix
that?”

He picked up the gauze. “After we get the ointment on some of this new
skin on my chest and back, we need to wrap this around me heavy enough
that it is supportive. Then I just need to stay still while they mend
over night.”

Nodding, Willow leaned over and grabbed the ointment from beside her.
Thankful that it was a large tube, she handed it to him, “Well, it looks
like we have enough. Here, get to putting this on the front of you while
I turn out the lights in the front room and then I will put it on your
back.”

A few minutes later, she returned and silently sat down behind him on
the bed. He handed the tube back to her and she started to rub it on the
new skin on his back. A few times, as she passed over an area by his
ribs, he gasped, but she kept on, trying to be gentle. Finally she
placed the tube on the bed and then picked up the gauze. “Uh, Spike, I
really don’t want to hurt you, but it needs to be somewhat tight, right?”

Spike nodded in front of her. “I trust you Willow.”

Willow smiled at his words and then started at the task. Several times,
she heard him gasp out in pain, but she kept on. As she finished it off,
she felt a tear start to fall from her eye. She was crying? For Spike?
Willow taped the gauze and then started to stack pillows for Spike to
lean on. He took her cue and leaned his back against the pillows so he
was in a sitting position. She leaned over him and grabbed his mug.
“Here, drink this and then I will finish up with the rest.”

He took the mug and looked at her as she sat in front of him towards the
center of the bed. One tear fell and he leaned forward and caught the
other before it fell. “Pet, what is wrong?”

“You’re hurt. It’s my fault.” Willow pouted.

Spike took a drink and then shook his head. “I was the one who went in
the house, not you. There is no way it is your fault.” After taking a
sip, he added, “Not only that, but I have been worse.”

Willow sniffled. “It is just that, well, I never really cared. But
then today, BAM, you spring stuff on me, and not just fluffy stuff, but
heavy stuff. I didn’t want to care to much, but it hurts, and now, you
helped take that hurt away. I don’t know how to explain it, and part of
me is scared to. You’re the bad guy, Mr. ‘I Love To Kill’ and I’m miss
passive over here. How can I deal with that without getting hurt. But
then, then, you run into that house and it...I...felt like something is
being ripped away from me. I haven’t felt like this before and I don’t
want to, but I want to. Does any of that make sense?”

Spike smiled. He loved Willow’s rambling. Some people couldn’t
understand it, and he had to admit to making fun of it sometimes when he
was keeping up his persona, but the truth was he understood all of it.
“I understand, luv.”

Willow smiled lopsidedly. “Really.”

He nodded. “When I saw you go into the house, not knowing I was out, I
felt the same thing, like I could loose something I was just beginning to
understand but wanting more than ever.” He paused and took a drink
before adding, “That is why I don’t want you going to the bloody
Initiative. What if something happened and I lost you after all of
this?”

Willow smiled and brought out the ointment. “But after all of this and
your healing abilities finish up, you’ll be ready to go with me and make
sure that doesn’t happen.”

He laughed at her and finished up his mug of blood. After sitting it
down, they took a few more minutes to put on the ointment. After Willow
was finished, she got up and placed the supplies back into the bathroom.
Shutting the blinds and curtains so Spike wouldn’t go into flames in the
morning, she turned and looked at him. “Ready for bed?”

He nodded and laid down on his back, staring at the ceiling. “I’ll see
you in the morning?”

She turned off the light and walked to the other side of the bed. “Of
course,” she answered as she pulled the covers over her and settled
beside him.

“You’re sleeping here?” he asked.

“Don’t get any ideas. That ointment reeks. I just wanted to be near if
you needed anything.” He laughed and for a while they were silent. Then
out of nowhere, Willow added, “I may not understand yet, but I realized
today I can’t lose you.” She turned and looked over towards him. “Don’t
leave me, Spike.”

He smiled, wishing he could turn onto his side and hold her. “I won’t.
I promise.”

Willow sighed contentedly and smiled. A whole day ago this would have
seemed impossible, but now, after she almost lost him, she knew that this
was what she wanted. Drifting off to sleep, she muttered, “You never
know till you almost lose it.”
 

Part 11

The next day, at Giles’ apartment, the Scooby Gang sat around, trying to
fill their time as they waited for things to come together. In the back
of the living room, Buffy and Riley had moved furniture, practicing
moves. Every once in a while a grunt could be heard from one of them, as
they accidently punched or kicked each other. The focus of the workout
was actually not coming into contact with the other person. Giles sat
near by, adding a few things as Buffy’s watcher, but focusing mainly on
the amulet they had brought back the night before. He wanted to make
sure that it would work in the capacity they had wanted it for. Tara had
escaped to the kitchen, where she had used the excuse of mixing
ingredients for spells, but an odor of sugar cookies was starting to
drift from the room. Willow sat on the sofa that had been moved close to
the door. In her lap sat a photo album that Buffy and her had taken from
Willow’s bedroom. It was full of pictures of Willow and her friends.
Here and there would be a picture of her and her family, but the photos
did not show any happiness. Even though her parents died, at least she
had a relationship with them. In all, she decided her life had been
better in that area.

A knock at the door jarred her thoughts, and she jumped up to get it,
being the closest one to the door. Opening the door, she found herself
facing a young man. He was tall and thin, with dark rimmed wire glasses.
Smiling at her, he commented, “You must be the other Willow.” Holding
his hand out to her, he added, “I’m Wesley Wyndham Pryce.”

As he shook her hand, Giles, Buffy and Riley walked to the door. Giles
smiled at the other ex-watcher, wondering to himself how much Wesley had
changed. Angel had talked to Giles a few times since Wesley joined the
group, and from what he had heard, the other British watcher had started
to turn for the better. “Please, come in Wesley.”

Wesley walked in and looked around as Buffy asked, “You didn’t bring
Angel?”

“No.”

“Good,” Riley remarked, slightly under his breath but loud enough for
Buffy to hear.

Buffy struck him in the side with her elbow. Wesley arched an eyebrow
and commented, “There are some things going on in LA, so Angel stayed to
help Gunn out with his part of town.”

“Gunn?” asked Giles.

“A street kid that we met up with. He leads a gang that fights
vampires, and has turned out to be a worthy ally.” Turning to Riley, he
then remarked, “And you must be Riley? I know we just met, but you don’t
seem a bit like Angel described you.”

Before Riley could say anything, Buffy asked, “So how is Cordelia?”

Laughing, Wesley answered, “Probably complaining right now. She wanted
to come with me, but Angel needed her to run some errands in LA for him.”
Buffy smiled at the way he talked about Cordelia. She remembered how he
used to have a crush on the ex-Sunnydale cheerleader. Now he talked
about her with a touch of disdain, but still that as a friend. Wesley
had changed some, even though his wardrobe could still use some work. As
the room started to fall quiet, Wesley took a deep breath and reached
into his pocket. He pulled out a small ring with a black gem. “Here is
the amulet you were looking for.”

A girl rushed out of the kitchen and looked at the ring in awe as Giles
took it from Wesley. “Did you bring the spell?” she asked. “We need to
send Willow’s powers across dimensions to our Willow.”

Wesley nodded, guessing that this was Tara. “I brought the texts I have
on the object.” He reached into his pockets and handed them over to her.
She started reading them right away as she rushed to the kitchen.
Looking at Giles, he commented, “Strange seeing the gang again.”

Buffy took his arm and led him to the couch. “Here, sit and tell us all
the news from LA. Cordelia and Angel don’t seem to know the definition
of a phone line.”
 

Part 12

Willow sat cross legged on the floor, dressed in clothes she had
borrowed form Cordelia. Spike, sitting behind her in a chair, looked
down over her shoulder at the items in the pen box. There was a ring, a
pendant necklace, and a letter written in Giles’ handwriting. Willow was
reading the letter quietly as everyone else joined Spike in watching her.
Placing the letter down, she grabbed the pendant and handed it to Spike.
“Here, it is a homing amulet. They have a spell that can activate it
and retrieve the one wearing it. As soon as I am home, they will call
you back.”

Spike placed the amulet around his neck and stuffed it under his shirt,
out of sight. “And what is that?” he asked, pointing to the ring.

As she held it up, Faith got up and joined her on the floor, eyeing the
piece of jewelry. “It is beautiful.”

Willow agreed, “Yep. It is an amulet used to transfer power from one to
another. The wearer receives the power sent from the caster.”

“But Willow can’t cast,” remarked Amy.

Willow nodded, “Yes, but Tara does, and she can work as the caster,
becoming a conduit of sorts.”

“So, how long does it work?” asked Giles as he pushed his glasses up on
his nose.

“Tara can only be a conduit for so long, so we need to decide when they
need to work the spell.”

William sat forward the same time Spike did. Echoing each other, they
swore under there breath and commented, “Shit. It all comes down to
timing.”

Angel nodded, commenting before anyone could focus on the strange
incident that had just taken place. “I have already talked to our
insider. He said that he will have a group waiting to take us in as
prisoners at seven.”

“Can this group be trusted?” asked Oz.

“He says that a few of them aren’t on our side, but there are enough on
ours that they will be able to take over those that aren’t.”

Spike sat back and winced as he felt a little pain. He had healed
pretty well over the night, but there was still a bit of pain when it
came to his ribs. Settling comfortably in the chair, he crossed his
arms. “This sounds a little too risky for Willow.”

Willow turned and looked at him. “You aren’t going to stop me.”

“Well, if you’re going, so am I.”

“Why? You can’t protect me. It will be us against humans, not demons.”

William interjected, “Let him come, Willow. If you don’t, he will sit
here and whine, and I know this because it is what I would do.”

Giles looked up and added, “Please do.”

“Fine. Then who else is going to go with us?”

Beside her, Faith smiled wickedly, just like the Faith she knew. “Count
me in. I wouldn’t miss a fight like this.”

Angel and William also nodded. “Count us in. We have been wanting to
take the Initiative down for way too long,” commented Angel as William
agreed.

From the back of the room, Cordelia spoke up for the first time. “Count
me in.”

Doyle sat up at her decision. “Isn’t it a little dangerous, dear?”

Angel smiled over at her. “She can handle it. I watched Buffy and her
spar once.”

Doyle settled down, and looked at his wife. He knew that she was
strong. “Fine. But I
don’t like this.”

Oz walked over and placed his hand on Doyle’s shoulder, understanding
his pain since Faith would be one of those going. “I have equipment that
can help us keep in touch with each other.” He walked over and pulled
out a small device that hooked onto the ear. “We can talk to each other
through these. They will receive and send messages back and forth.”

Amy nodded. “Good, then I will stay here and listen in. I may know a
bit of magic that Willow doesn’t.”

Willow nodded and looked at Giles. “Fine, we enter the Initiative right
before seven. Until then, I need to study. Do you have any magic books
that I can study?”
 

Part 13

Giles took the latest letter out of the pen box and read it over.
Looking at Tara, he asked, “Can the power transfer spell be set up by
7:15?”

She looked over at Wesley, who had actually been a great help in
understanding the texts. “I think so.”

Wesley nodded, “We just need to fix the ingredients for the conduit.”

Tara scrunched up her nose. “I don’t think this it is going to taste
that great, so I must admit, I’m not looking forward to it.”

Willow agreed. “I know, but this is the only way according to the
book.”

Tara got up and headed to the kitchen to grab the ingredients. “Well, I
might as well get ready.”

Buffy took in a deep breath as she looked at Riley and commented, “And
now comes the ritual waiting.”

He looked up at the clock and commented, “I sure wish we were handling
the time more like Xander and Anya.”

Buffy turned red and Giles shook his head. Shaking her own head, Buffy
remarked, “Yes, but this is for Willow. Just remember that.”
 

Part 14

Spike stared down at the doors in front of him as he held his blanket
around him. After Adam, he never thought that he would be standing here
again. Looking over at Willow, he could read the same thoughts running
through her head, “What a bloody time to be back here,” he remarked.

Willow looked over at him and shook her head as Faith worked at the
doors. It almost seemed like in an echo through time as she made a
comment about no one in Sunnydale locking their doors. The door creaked
open and they all stood for a while, looking into the dark halls of the
Initiative. Angel looked down at his watch and then started for the
door. “Hopefully they will be on time.”

They walked into the dark hallway as Angel threw off his blanket and
brought out his flashlight. Shining it towards the end of the hallway,
they discovered the elevator. Willow shook off the feeling of dead
memories washing over her. This was the way they went to get Oz. She
had helped save him, just to leave him for Tara. And now she was going
this way with feelings for someone else, someone that not one of her
friends were going to approve of.

The small group got in the elevator and Angel pushed the button. He
looked at everyone and commented, “If they are on time, they will meet us
at the bottom.”

The elevator doors opened, allowing several guns to point in on them. In
the back, Spike remarked to Willow, “What a nice welcoming committee.”

One of the men in front stepped forward with a sinister smile on his
face. “Thought you could just walk in, did you. Well, I have orders to
take you to my superior.”

Willow looked up and saw herself looking above Faith’s shoulder into the
eyes of Graham. Beside him, Forrest asked, “Should we separate Willow.
She has always been a problem.”

Graham shook his head. “No, bring her with the rest of them.”

Willow felt herself being grabbed. Beside her, Spike growled, but let
them take her, as he was being taken right behind her. The group,
surrounded by the army men were led deep into the Initiative, into a part
Willow didn’t recognize. Before long, they found themselves in a large
open room. The men surrounded them in a circle. No one said a thing.
And then the door opened. Riley Finn walked into the room and in the
circle. He eyed Willow but walked up to Faith instead. With out leaving
her gaze, he commented, “Only high ranking officials can stay.”

Half of the men stayed while half of them left. Forrest and Graham were
among those staying. Both of them looked straight a head. There was
something strange seeing them here. She had talked to her Graham a few
times after the Initiative had dissolved, but she had never talked to
Forrest. He had seemed a little too much by the book for her. The fact
he had his own war against Buffy didn’t help.

Riley smiled at Faith. “So, Slayer, what brings you down here? Having
a little trouble with things on the surface?”

A voice behind Willow caused her to jump. It was somewhat soothing,
while also unnerving. “Riley, my Love, maybe you should be a little more
polite to our guests.”

Without looking back, Faith commented through clenched teeth, “We’re not
guests, we’re prisoners.”

The person ignored her and stepped into Willow’s view. Willow stiffened
as she looked at the person before her. It had the face of Tara, but the
eyes that looked at her were different - they were somewhere between
purple and red, almost maroon. Her hair had been dyed black and hung
loosely down her back. She smiled, showing off two sharp canines.
Taking her blue hand, she stroked Willow’s face. “So, my dear, how are
you enjoying your new home?”

“I’m not staying,” answered Willow.

Tara laughed, sending chills down Willow’s back. “Sure you are.” She
leaned in and whispered in Willow’s ear, “You will never get home, but if
you play good, I’ll keep you around after I take over the Hellmouth. It
would be fun. I’m sure Riley wouldn’t mind the added company.”

Willow’s eyes widened as she heard the comment, understanding what she
meant. Beside her, Spike stiffened and Tara looked over at him, knowing
he had heard. Turning back to Willow, she leaned forward and licked
Willow’s face. “Your William could watch.” Spike growled and she
commented, “Down boy. I could just kill you right here, but then, where
is the fun in that?”

Looking up at the clock, Willow gasped, 7:16. She had started to feel
it, but it hadn’t dawned on her till she saw the clock. It kept on
building inside of her. Tara turned her attentions back towards her and
saw the light building in Willow’s eyes. Backing away, she hissed, “Kill
them!”

Everyone reacted as soon as the words left her mouth. Faith kicked
Riley square in the stomach as the issue was ordered. William and Angel
both turned to an Initiative member pointing a gun towards them. Forrest
watched Graham’s actions. Forrest’s face held surprise as Graham
automatically shot one of his guys down with a stunner. He dropped his
gun, not knowing what to do. Initiative members were shooting each
other, and he frankly, didn’t know what to do or want to know what was
going on. He dropped his gun and ran out of the room. Graham smiled as
his friend left. The last thing he wanted was for Forrest to get hurt.
Cordelia stepped back, and went for some of the men in the back, giving
Spike space to move to. Spike dove for cover, and crawled to the back
door that Tara had entered from.

Tara and Willow backed up from each other. Tara growled as she saw
Willow’s eyes become even brighter. They started to glow white, over
taking the green of her eyes. Willow took in a deep cleansing breath as
she heard Amy’s voice in her ear, rattling on about a barrier spell.
Taking note as the other witch spoke to her, she looked at Tara as her
advisory spoke. “You can’t win Willow. My powers are greater.” With
that she sent a ball of fire towards Willow. Speaking the words Amy had
just sent her, she set up a barrier, deflecting the ball back towards
Tara. Tara smiled as she sucked the power from the fire back in. She
smiled and licked her canines. “This is going to be interesting.”
 

Part 15

Spike looked back as Willow deflected Tara’s blow and then sneaked
through the door. He looked up to find himself in what looked like a
living area. Getting up and brushing himself off, he scanned the room
and saw nothing interesting. It was just a living room and small
kitchen. He shook his head and then walked into another room. One quick
look told him this was a bed room, and a very interesting one at that.
Even though it was lit only by candles, he see with his vampire sight the
toys laying around. Eyeing the chains on the bed head board, he chuckled
and then looked at two other door ways. Which one, he asked himself.

After pondering, he just chose one. He walked into the room and stopped
dead in his tracks. It was a room full of magic books and ingredients.
A covered object in the corner caught his attention. Walking towards it,
he removed the cover and stared. It was a mirror. Being a vampire, he
didn’t expect to see a reflection. He looked into it, however, and
didn’t see himself, but William. He was fighting one of the Initiative
goons. Spike smiled to himself and stared back towards the room
containing the fighting as he commented, “Bingo.”
 

Part 16

Around Willow and Tara, the fighting kept on. Faith had left Riley, and
gone on to fight one of the other Initiative members one on one as Angel
took over. As William knocked someone else against one of the walls,
Graham was smacking the but of his stunner across someone’s face. The
two turned and looked at each other. All that was left were Tara, Riley,
and the guy Faith was fighting. They took each other in and then turned
to see Angel throw Riley up against the wall. He then removed a dagger
from his boot and threw it into the man’s chest. Riley, already worn
out, looked down at the dagger embedded in his chest and then slowly
closed his eyes as his head bobbed to the side.

Tara let out a scream as she saw her mate fall. “No!” she screamed, as
she unleashed great power on Willow. Not able to stand against it,
Willow fell down. Her breath was knocked out of her as she tried to
collect herself. Not quite being able to, she gasped for air.

Tara started towards Willow, her senses only paying attention to Willow.
She never saw the blond enter the room from her quarters. Spike sprang
at her and knocked her to the ground, the demon surfacing. As she got
up, she looked at her attacker and smiled. “Damn vampire,” she muttered
before sending him flying into one of the walls.

By now Willow was up. As soon as Spike flew into the air, she felt
something swell inside of her, protectiveness. His body fell into the
wall, making a loud noise. She saw his head fall. Never waiting to see
that he was okay, Willow yelled, “No one touches him!”

Spike wasn’t unconscious like Willow thought. He shook the dizziness
away and smiled as he heard her speak. Cordelia was at his side in a
flash and helped him up. It was then he saw Willow do something down that
surprised him.

Willow screamed as Tara turned to her. The hatred in her eyes burned
with fury. She threw power at Tara like she had never done. Tara fell,
trying to deflect the blows of power and fire being thrown at her. Then
Willow did something strange. Instead of sending power, she sent a
barrier towards the top of Tara. The edge of the barrier hit Tara at
full force, ripping off her head in a clean slice. Willow just stared at
what she had done, breathing heavily as some of the others blocked their
eyes from the scene.

The fighting had stopped. Some of the people dropped to their knees as
others just stared at the carnage. Spike picked himself off the floor
and ran to Willow. As soon as he neared her, she flung her quivering
body in his arms. He held her tight as she cried and then all of a
sudden, went limp. Picking her up in his arms, he headed to the living
quarters. Angel looked over and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Laying her down.” Spike answered.

Faith stepped over the pool of blood between Tara’s body and head.
“That was so cool!” She then turned to William and added, “And a little
gross.”

Everyone watched as Spike laid Willow down on the couch. Her breathing
seemed to slow down. For a while, they all stood there in silence, not
knowing what to do, and then she started to wake. Slowly, her eyes
opened and she looked at everyone around her. “That was weird.”

“The transfer, is it gone?” asked Angel.

She nodded. “It was strange. All of a sudden, I could feel all these
things around me. I could hear thoughts and voices.” Shaking her head,
she smiled, “But they weren’t ready for this. He never got to them, to
tell them.”

Graham shook his head. “Actually, instead of going through Forrest, he
went through me this time.”

“Who?” asked William.

Faith crossed her arms. “The turncoat.”

Willow nodded and then leaned back. “I am so tired.”

“Who was it?” asked Angel.

She shook her head and looked at Graham as he stared at her, telling him
that he shouldn’t tell. “When Willow gets here, she will know. Let her
handle it.”

Faith snorted, “Fine don’t tell us. We’ll find out anyway.”

Spike quickly changed the subject. “I think I know a way to get home.”

Willow smiled, “Really, how?”

He helped her up and then led her through the rooms to the mirror.
Everyone followed and stood watched. Willow stepped in front of it and
gasped. Instead of seeing her reflection, she could see the other
Willow. She was at Giles’ place. Willow could tell her power was taking
her over now. The Willow was holding her head and rocking back and forth
as Tara and Giles rubbed her back. Cordelia reached out and grabbed
Willow’s wrist as she reached for the mirror. “Wait!”

Willow turned and looked at Cordelia. Stepping to the side, Cordelia
took her place in front of the mirror without even realizing it. She was
looking at Willow, about to speak when everyone gasped. In the mirror
was another Cordelia. This one wore fancier clothes. Her hair and make
up were flawless. This was a Cordelia with class. Willow saw the look
and laughed at everyone’s surprise. Spike broke Willow’s laughter and
the silence by commenting, “We told you Cordelia was different in our
universe.”

“What about me?” asked Faith as she started to go towards the mirror.
Willow rushed forward and stepped in her way. “No Faith. You can’t
look. Our Faith is in jail, for killing a man, so there is no telling
what you will see.”

Faith stepped back and nodded, “Okay.” For a second they stared at each
other and then Faith asked, “You are going to see if you can go through?”

Spike shook his head, thinking of Riley’s words the day before.
“Through the Looking Glass.”

“What?” asked Graham.

Angel nodded at the mirror. “It is a looking glass. Tara somehow
connected this dimension and another with it. Willow needs to step
through to send our Willow back.”

William stepped forward and grabbed Willow. “Thank you for the help.”

She hugged him and nodded, “I’ll get her back.”

She then turned to Angel and Faith. After both hugging her, she looked
over at Cordelia. Tears were filling her eyes. She walked to Willow in
quick strides and they wrapped each other in an embrace. Cordelia let go
as a tear fell. Smiling at Willow, she commented, “Thank you for being
so nice.”

Willow smiled and understood. This was a Cordelia who was looked down
on like her.
She wasn’t miss popular, and even though she had friends, she still felt
they didn’t give her the attention she deserved. Maybe that was why when
she fell for someone, she fell with all of her heart and expected the
same in return. She didn’t have that with Buffy, but now she did with
Doyle. Willow had been nice since they met, and after the comment about
her clothing, they clicked even more. Willow could tell that Cordelia
saw her as a common soul. She leaned forward and kissed Cordelia on the
cheek in front of everyone. “Good luck in everything, Cordy.”

She then looked at Graham, who she could tell wanted to ask her
something. Grabbing the device from her ear, she handed it to Angel and
then walked up to Graham. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Why
didn’t you want them to know about Xander?”

Just what she thought he would ask. She smiled and answered, “I think
that now is not the time or place to bring it into light, and now that
this is over, it may not be that much of a problem. Therefore, I am
leaving it to the true leader of this group, the other Willow.”

He nodded and held out his hand, “It was nice meeting you for this short
time.”

She agreed. “Yes, and thank you for all your help.”

Willow then turned and smiled at Spike. He nodded silently, so she
started back to the mirror. Slowly she reached out. Her hand went
though the surface, and the next thing she knew, Willow was being pulled
through. Within seconds, another Willow was in her place. This Willow
collapsed as she held her head. William had her in his arms in seconds.
She looked up at him and then smiled, “I’m home?”

William shook his head at her weak voice. “Yes. How are you?”

“Fine, but I want to go home. My head hurts.”

He nodded but then commented, “Well, that may be a little difficult.”
She nodded and then seemed to dig her face into his chest. William
looked up at Spike and commented, “As soon as you showed up, I could see
it in your face but not hers. Then, after the house, I could see it in
her’s too. Don’t give up on her. Work through this and keep her safe.”

Spike nodded at his double as he felt himself start to fade away.
 

Part 17

Spike looked up as the door to his crypt flew open. He jumped up,
remembering how Buffy had broke in just a few days ago. Instead of
Buffy, he found himself looking into the eyes of Willow Rosenberg. He
hadn’t seen her since getting back. Everyone was so into her, they never
saw him leave to head home. She walked up to him and poked him in the
chest. “Where were you? I wanted you to walk me home.”

“Your friends were going all googoo over you. It made me sick.”

She glared at him for a second and then started to get a crazed look
about her. “So is that what you are going to always do, dart away from
my friends? That doesn’t seem like the kind of relationship I want.
Then again, did I ever want a relationship with a blood sucking vampire
that loves to kill people.” She started to pace as she threw her hands
in the air. “And what is Buffy going to do, or even Tara? They will
freak. This is too much for me. I’m just meek little Willow. This
isn’t stuff that I need.”

Spike stopped her and brought him to her with a fierce kiss. At first
Willow struggled, but then she felt herself give in. No matter what her
mind said, she wanted him so much. Wrapping her arms around him, she
stepped in closer, only to stop at the sound of shuffling feet.

Willow turned to see Tara and Buffy staring at her and Spike. Beside
her, she heard Spike mutter, “Bloody Hell. Not now.”

Buffy started forward as Tara put her hand on her shoulder. Buffy
turned and eyed her. “I am going to stake him. Don’t try to stop me!”

Tara shook her head. “Try it, and I’ll turn you into a rat.”

Buffy’s mouth fell open. “What?!”

Tara looked over at Spike and smiled. “He loves her. He even loved her
when I was with her. I felt it.”

Buffy motioned at the two, “You’re telling me, that, that, that thing
has a thing for my Willow!?”

Tara shook her head. “I’m telling you they have a thing for each
other.”

Willow walked over to her two friends. “Please, Buffy, let me make this
decision.”

Buffy looked back at Spike and then at her friend. She felt Tara place
a hand on her shoulder. “Come on Buffy. Let’s leave these two for a
while.”

Buffy stood still another second and then looked back at Spike. “Hurt
her, and I’ll stake your ass!”

Spike surprised her by just looking her way and nodding. “I’m not going
to hurt Willow. You can trust me on that.”

Buffy nodded and followed Tara out the door. Turning back to Spike, she
remarked, “That went better than expected.”

Spike smiled. “You know what I thought was better?”

“What?”

He grabbed her and kissed her again. After a few minutes, they pulled
away and he answered, “That.”
 

read the Sequal 'Stirring Of The Soul'

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